Come up with new initiative to supply water to affected areas — Ripin
MIRI: Lebuhraya Borneo Utara (LBU) Sdn Bhd and its Pan Borneo Highway Sg Tangap-Pujut Link ( TPL) work package contractor Konsortium KPE Sdn Bhd are urged to come up with a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to deliver water to areas which faced supply interruption due to works along the project sites.
Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat said damage to existing pipelines due to road works which often occurred in his constituency had resulted in several villages and longhouses there facing water shortage for several days or even weeks.
He made this suggestion when speaking at a dialogue on road safety awareness with the local community at Rumah Johnson Jangu Seloi Tengah, Jalan Miri Bintulu, about 40km from here yesterday.
“It usually took about two or three days for the water supply to return to normal. We understand that JBALB ( Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department) will not be able to accommodate and deliver the water supply to every village and longhouse.
“Thus, we would like to request LBU and its contractor to provide necessary assistance whenever the pipelines are damaged to minimise water shortage woes,” said Ripin.
He said LBU and its contractor can use their lorries to place tanks fi lled with water to be distributed to the affected areas.
“This water delivery move will be a sort of a CSR programme which will help to lessen the burden of the villagers until the damaged pipelines are repaired and water supply returned to normal,” said Ripin, adding that he had received complaints from his constituents on the lack of assistance to deliver water in time of crisis.
Commenting further, he disclosed that almost the entire Subis district would experience water shortage whenever the existing pipelines are damaged due to earthwork being carried out, especially at the main pipeline at Bukit Song, and this has continued since the Pan Borneo Highway project started.
Thus, he hoped the ongoing project works being done in his constituency will be completed as scheduled.
Ripin commended LBU, Konsortium KPE, traffic police, Road Transport Department and the local community for jointly organising the road safety awareness programme and promoting road safety concept as a shared responsibility.
He also reminded the rural community to be always cautious while on the roads to avoid accidents.
The event was jointly organised by LBU, Subis District Office, Konsortium KPE and the village development and security committee (JKKK).
It aimed to promote awareness of traffic management in highway construction areas including traffic warning signs, providing guidance and understanding of flag guard instructions, security measures while driving on the Pan Borneo Highway and establishing bilateral ties between LBU, government representatives and the local community.
The dialogue session was conducted by a TPL construction manager Ahmad Rashdi Abdullah and representatives from Konsortium KPE Frankey Sibat and project manager Rodney Mora.
Among those present were Subis District Officer Jamalie Busri, LBU project manager Anup Kumar Sinha, Subis District Council secretary Farrah Sofya Mohd Sharbini and longhouse chief Johnson Jangu.